Claim - Page 71

Mila waved and walked out.

It looked like smack-dab in the middle of Carr hunting me, I was going to a family lunch followed by a fancy party.

And I was going to get to see Beau fight.

29

BEAU

When I came out of my bathroom with a towel around my waist, and using another to towel off my hair, I found Bell staring at my bed. It was covered in bags.

“Did Mila get everything you need?”

She turned to look at me. “What didn’t she buy? Beau, this is too much.”

Closing the distance between us, I slung the towel around my neck. I sure as hell liked the way her gaze went straight to my bare chest.

I cupped her jaw, and those fathomless blue eyes met mine. “I don’t think it’s anywhere near enough.”

“Beau—”

“You’ve been living with nothing for a year. Living out of a damn backpack. You deserve everything that’s on that bed.”

Her chest hitched. “You’re going to make me cry.”

“I don’t ever want to make you cry.” I lowered my head and brushed my lips over hers. “If I do, you have permission to kick my ass.”

That got me a little hiccupping laugh.

“I have something else for you.”

“Beau…”

I pulled the silver chain out of my pocket. I’d made a call to a local jeweler today, one that Dante assured me did good work. The idea had popped into my head, and I hadn’t been able to shake it. I’d paid extra for him to get the work done today, and Mila had picked it up for me.

Opening my palm, I watched Bell suck in a breath.

The chain had a small pendant dangling off it. It was a tiny little pair of boxing gloves.

“I thought this was perfect for you.”

She swallowed. “I love it.”

“Turn around.”

She gave me her neck, and I slipped the chain on and fastened it. When she turned, she was fingering the pendant.

“Thank you.”

I saw the sheen of tears in her eyes.

“No crying or I’ll take it back.” I kissed her, taking it deeper, pulling in the taste of her. “Wish I had the time to strip you naked and fuck you on top of those bags.”

She giggled. And fuck, I loved that sound.

“But if we don’t get moving, we’ll be late to family lunch, and every single person there will know exactly what made us late.”

“Beau, thank you. For saving me last night, and for the new clothes, and…for caring.”